When you're setting up your new home you may find that you have options when it comes to the appliances you install. One of the biggest decisions will be whether to opt for a gas stove or an electric one. Each has its pros and cons, so you should learn about both before you make your decision - especially if you've only ever used one type in your life. This article contains pertinent facts that you'll need to know to make an informed choice.

Gas

There's a reason the old saying "cooking with gas" means to do something quickly - gas stoves are much quicker to heat up than electric ones, so if you often find yourself in a situation where you need to cook quickly, such as doing catering from your home, gas is your best option. Almost all restaurants use gas ranges. Gas is also cheaper to use than electricity as the price of the gas you use to cook one dish can be as little as half the price of the electricity you would use to cook the same dish.

If you're going to go with a gas stove, however, you will need to have a large tank of propane or natural gas attached to the outside of your home. This tank will also need regular filling and servicing from your gas company. There may not be many to choose from depending on where you live. With gas in the home, there's always the risk of accidental fire, explosion, or carbon monoxide poisoning, so take that into account, especially if there are vulnerable people (small children, dependent parents) in the household.

Electric

Electric stoves are much easier to use, especially for beginning cooks. Most cookbooks are written with preparation on an electric stove in mind because most homes have them. Electric stoves require only an industrial electrical plug and their own fuse to power them. You also have a lot of options when it comes to cooktops, ranging from the old fashioned coil burners to the brand new flat-surface ceramic stoves that can heat up almost as fast as a gas stove - the only drawback is that ceramic can be expensive.

Electric stoves require far less cleaning and maintenance but are just too slow to heat for most to bother with. Electric stoves also have step levels on their control knobs while gas knobs can be nudged slightly in either direction for finer control over the heat delivered. On the other hand, though, electric stove pose less danger to curious children and pets than gas burners, which use an open flame and jump to life at the flick of a dial. The fire and gas safety measure you just read about were provided by fire and flood experts, CRCSDKI.com.